There are, of course, all kinds of ways to become an advocate for children; one of the greatest ways (and the way that will be the focus of this article) is by becoming a CASA volunteer. CASA stands for court-appointed special advocate, and it’s a program designed to empower children who have been victims of abuse or neglect by providing one-on-one assistance through court-appointed volunteers (also called special advocates).

So what exactly does all of this mean? Read on for more information about CASA and what you can do to become an advocate for children.

About CASA

CASA was established in 1977 when Seattle judge David Soukup expressed concern about making decisions on abused and neglected children’s court cases when he didn’t have enough information. David thought it would be beneficial to appoint community volunteers to speak on behalf of those children; and it was. He requested volunteers and 50 citizens responded. Since then, CASA has nearly 60,000 advocates and has helped more than 2 million children.

How You Can Help

By becoming an advocate! As an advocate, you work directly one 1 child’s case at a time. This is the wonderful thing about a program like CASA. You’re not swamped with several cases like lawyers are; you get to focus on 1 case–one child’s life. Now for the nitty gritty details:

Yes, “the internet” is one of our 300 + hobbies. And why the heck not? It’s a popular hobby–arguably the most popular modern day hobby. But after Myspace, Blogging, and watching that same YouTube video for the 100th time, you might have–gasp–run out of sites to visit. Actually, if you’re a regular surfer, chances are you’ve experienced that sad moment in time, sitting in front of the computer screen, mouse-finger posed to click…and with nowhere to go. Well, internet users, don’t despare. For your viewing pleasure, we bring you the first in a series of web recommendations, NotSoBoringLife’s Top 10 LOL Websites.

OK, so it’s not usually polite to mock the dead…but the Darwin Awards are too good to pass up. The Darwin Awards: “salut[ing] the improvement of the human genome by honoring those who
accidentally remove themselves from it…”

Yeah, we know ComedyCentral is a television station, but we couldn’t pass ’em up. Their website features full-length episodes of some of their top shows, including The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

Is there an LOL site we’re forgetting?

OK–now how are you feeling? If your answer is still “pretty awful thanks” then you really might want to start paying attention to your pranayama. And if you’re wondering what the heck am I talking about, then you probably want to keep reading to find out.

What is Pranayama?

Pranayama means “the lengthening of the breath.” To be more specific, it is a Sanskrit word composed of Prana, which means either “life force” or “the breath,” and ayama, which means “to lengthen.”

Pranayama is common in yoga and is used as a way to control breathing.

OK–But Why Does Breath Control Matter?

Yoga isn’t just a form of exercise–it’s a combination of mediation and slow exercise that can be used for everything from relaxation and stress reduction to posture and concentration. And proper breathing is an essential component of practicing yoga.

By controlling your breath, you are able to encourage the meditative aspect of yoga. Some people believe that proper breathing can encourage physical health by reducing toxins and aiding in digestion. While we aren’t sure whether or not this is true, we do know that it sure feels good to try!

How to Practice Proper Breathing

There are a few different techniques for practicing breathing in yoga. One of the things I keep in mind is the saying “abdomen, chest, chest, abdomen.”

What this means is that you inhale first in the abdomen, then the chest.

Next, exhale–first the chest, then the abdomen.

This isn’t something most people can perfect right away, so be careful not to strain yourself. Begin slowly by practicing taking deep breaths in and out. For more detailed information on proper yoga breathing, try here or here.

When I first started practicing yoga, I found this video helpful. It emphasizes the importance of proper posture before you begin practicing proper breathing techniques.

Have you always wanted to join the choir but have been too scared to actually do it? While in the shower, do you secretly belt out the tunes to your favorite Broadway show stoppers? If so, you may want to begin seriously considering singing in the choir as one of your next hobbies.

It isn’t hard to do. In fact, there are all sorts of unexpected places that offer opportunities to join choir. Try some of the following:

Church

If you already attend church, you’ve got a head start on singing in the choir. Most churches have choirs that perform during regular service. If not, they may have a special choir for Christmas or Easter services. Check with your local church to find out whether or not you need to audition.

School

If you’re a student, spend a semester or quarter singing in the choir. Most high schools have choir programs, and even colleges offer credited classes. Some schools even have choirs for the teachers! If there isn’t one already, ask around to see if others are interested. You may be able to start a new trend among teachers.

Your Job

Okay, please don’t start singing during work. Surprisingly enough, some workplaces actually have after-work choirs. If there isn’t one already, ask your coworkers if they’d be interested in starting something up. If you can’t gather enough people for a choir, at the very least you’ll have a snazzy duet or barbershop quartet!

Community

Local organizations sometimes have auditions for choir. Check your local theater or other community programs.

If you’re involved with a nonprofit, see if you could raise money for charity by putting on a show!

Friends & Neighbors

Ask around your neighborhood. You might be surprised to find that the couple next door can belt it out like the best of them. Hobbies that involve friends and neighbors really are the best. You’ll bring the community together while doing something different and enjoyable.

Remember: you don’t have to be afraid to join a choir. A good attitude and a desire to sing are enough for some choirs. If you prefer, you can take individual lessons from a private instructor before joining a choir. Whatever you do, approach it with a positive attitude and you’re sure to have a great experience!

…and hey, I don’t blame you! Habitat for Humanity is a well-established nonprofit organization, and the experience of working with them is more than just a hobby. It’s an opportunity to make a difference in your own life as well as in the lives of families in need.

History of Habitat for Humanity

According to the Habitat for Humanity website, approximately 1.6 billion people live in substandard housing and 100 million are homeless. Linda and Millard Fuller began Habitat for Humanity in 1976. Since that time…

Habitat has built more than 250,000 houses around the world, providing more than 1 million people in more than 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter.

Pretty impressive, right? Here’s how to volunteer:

How to Volunteer

Locally

One of the great things about Habitat for Humanity is that it’s, well, everywhere!

With branches in every U.S. state as well as several international branches, it’s extremely easy to find a local organization. Just use the Habitat for Humanity local search to find a branch near you.

Nationally

If you don’t mind relocating for a short (or long) period of time, Habitat is accepting volunteers at their headquarters in Americus, Georgia. On average, volunteers work 8-5. If you’re not a local resident, you may even be eligible for a small weekly stipend.

For example: the trip to Comanesti, Romania. Volunteers leave September 26 and stay until early October. While in Romania, volunteers will work on a variety of tasks, including renovation and constructing new houses.

Other Programs

Just when you think the opportunities are over…there’s more! Habitat for Humanity also offers the following programs: